Arch of Friendship of Peoples in Kiev: History and Interesting Facts

A lot of interesting monuments are offered to examine the guests the capital of Ukraine - the city of Kiev. The arch of friendship among nations is one of them. This is a pretty impressive monument of the Soviet era, the attitude towards which the people of Kiev are very ambiguous.

Kreschaty Park - the green heart of the capital

This green pearl is located in the central part of Kiev, on the picturesque slopes of the Dnieper. Initially (before the revolution of 1917 ), the garden was called Kupechesky, and under Soviet rule Pionersky.

Today Khreshchatyi park covers an area of 12 hectares. His layout he retained from the first third of the XIX century. In this park there are several famous institutions and attractions, in particular the Water Museum, the Academic Puppet Theater, the National Philharmonic. There is also an arch of Friendship of Peoples (Kiev). Photos of this famous monument you can see below.

The monument is viewed from different parts of the city and is the dominant of the right bank of Kiev.

Arch of Friendship of Peoples: how to get there?

It is not difficult to find a monument. Right in the center of Kiev is the Arch of Friendship of Peoples. The address of the structure is as follows: Vladimirsky Descent, 2.

How to get to the Arch? To do this, go to the metro station "Independence Square" and then walk to the European Square (several hundred meters to the north). After that, you need to enter the Khreshchaty Park, in the depths of which there is a wide area with a monument.

Near the Arch there is an observation deck - a grand amphitheater, from which a wonderful view of Kiev: Podol, Truhanov Island and the Left Bank.

A little bit about the Pereyaslav Rada

The installation of this monument is closely connected with one important event in the history of Ukraine - the so-called Pereyaslav Rada.

As is known, in 1648 the Liberation People's War under the leadership of Bogdan Khmelnitsky began in Ukraine. For five years, the hetman managed to rescue most of modern Ukraine from the Polish oppression. However, the newly formed territory was jammed between three powerful states of that time - the Ottoman Empire, the Commonwealth and Muscovy. Bogdan Khmelnitsky was forced to join one of them in the union. And he chose the latter option.

In 1654 in Pereyaslav (now - the city of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky) a meeting of two negotiating groups, Ukrainian and Moscow. Evaluation of the results of this meeting still causes many discussions among historians. After all, on the one hand, Ukraine was able to withdraw from Poland, but on the other hand, it gradually lost its autonomy, finally falling under the influence of the Russian Empire.

Arch of Friendship of Peoples: The History of the Monument

It is curious that today it is impossible to find in the documents the exact date of the official opening of the monument. Arch of Friendship of Peoples in Kiev was built in 1982. It is believed that this event was timed to celebrate the 1500 anniversary of the city. At the opening ceremony of the monument, Vladimir Shcherbitsky himself, the head of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR, was speaking at that time.

Work on this giant complex lasted about four years! The Arch of Friendship of Peoples was opened in the autumn, on the eve of the 65th anniversary of the October Revolution, and immediately became a very popular place for Kyivans and guests of the capital.

Structure and symbols of the monument

The main element of the giant composition is a monument consisting of two sculptures of workers - Russian and Ukrainian, who hold the Order of Friendship of Peoples. It is made of bronze and titanium alloy, designed by Alexander Skoblikov. The height of this monument is 6.2 meters. It symbolizes the reunification of Ukraine and Russia.

Nearby is a stele with a multi-figure composition, carved into a block of pink granite. It is dedicated, in fact, to the events of the Pereyaslavl Rada of 1654. The stele depicts the Ukrainian hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Russian ambassador Vasily Buturlin, as well as other participants in the negotiation process.

Two sculptural compositions are joined by a huge arch, symbolizing the unity of the two Slavic peoples. Its height is 30 meters, and the length is 70 meters.

It is interesting that the architect A. Skoblikov, who worked on the sculptural composition of the Arch, is also the author of the memorial complex of the Great Patriotic War in Kiev.

With the Kyiv Friendship Friendship Arch, one fascinating legend is also associated, according to which the structure actually has a rounded shape. The lower part (arc) of the entire structure is allegedly hidden beneath the Dnieper slopes.

Arch of Friendship today

Of course, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this monument lost its original meaning and relevance. And after the aggravation of Russian-Ukrainian relations in 2014, many Kyivites began to regard it negatively.

So, from the pedestal of the sculptural monument letters of the inscription "To commemorate the reunification of Ukraine with Russia" disappeared. However, the inscription, as it turned out, was read well without them. So soon it was sketched in yellow-blue paint and covered with the words "Glory to Ukraine!". In addition, the vandals recently repulsed the sculpture of Vasily Buturlin.

In the spring of 2015, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine announced the possibility of dismantling the Arch. However, as the minister specified, the decision of this issue is in the competence of exclusively the Kiev authorities.

But in spite of everything, the Friendship of Peoples Arch remains a very popular object on the map of Kiev. Do not bypass this monument by the party and foreign tourists. Particularly beautiful is the Arch of Friendship in the evening, when it is illuminated by all the colors of the rainbow.